Estrogen, progesterone, FSH, inhibin, and TSH are among the main hormones menopause affects. Hormone therapies and other natural strategies may help balance your levels.

Menopause occurs when your body’s reproductive hormones fluctuate and your ovarian function decreases.

These shifts may be responsible for many symptoms, such as night sweats, weight gain, and mood changes.

Estrogen, although widely recognized as a menopause-related hormone, is just one among a few other hormones that your body changes its production of during menopause.

Estrogen

The ovaries primarily produce estrogen. As you go through menopause, your body greatly slows its production of estrogen because ovarian function declines.

Estrogen may be related to your body’s:

  • Reproductive health: It helps regulate your menstrual cycle and supports pregnancy. This may explain why you see changes to your period, have difficulty becoming pregnant, and experience vaginal dryness during menopause.
  • Heart health: It may help protect your heart and maintain healthy blood vessels. This may explain why your risk of heart disease increases after menopause.
  • Bone health: It may help keep your bones strong and contribute to their density. This may explain why your risks of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis increase after menopause.
  • Brain function: It may regulate your mood and brain function. This may explain why symptoms of menopause can include mood changes and decreased libido.

Estradiol

Estradiol (E2) is a form of estrogen — and the most potent and abundant one in your body at that.

If your doctor measures your estradiol level during menopause, they’ll typically look for levels less than 20 picograms per milliliter (mL).

Your ovaries make decreasing levels of estradiol until its production eventually stops once you’ve reached postmenopause.

Progesterone

Like estrogen, progesterone is a reproductive hormone everyone has some of. The ovaries make less of it during menopause.

As a reproductive hormone, progesterone works with estrogen and affects many similar bodily processes. It helps:

  • regulate your menstrual cycle
  • support pregnancy
  • influence sleep and emotional well-being

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Your pituitary gland creates FSH. This hormone stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles, which hold the eggs in your ovaries.

Levels of FSH rise in response to the decline in estrogen and progesterone. Doctors often consider an FSH level above 30 milli-international units per mL a good indicator of menopause.

During menopause, your levels of FSH increase because your ovaries produce fewer eggs and less estrogen.

In response, your pituitary gland releases more FSH in an attempt to stimulate your remaining follicles, but they no longer respond effectively.

Your pituitary gland will continue to release FSH, and it will remain elevated in your bloodstream.

Your doctor will also factor in your age and symptoms to determine whether you’re in menopause.

Inhibin

Your ovaries also produce inhibin. This hormone helps maintain your body’s level of FSH.

As your body makes less inhibin due to decreasing ovarian function, more FSH enters your bloodstream.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Similar to FSH, levels of TSH may increase during menopause.

This may have to do with how the function of your pituitary gland, which produces TSH, changes as you get older.

However, thyroid disorders may also cause the levels of this hormone to fluctuate, even if you’re not currently experiencing menopause.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of menopause but don’t suspect menopause is the reason, speak with your doctor. They’ll likely conduct a blood test to diagnose an underlying cause if menopause isn’t it.

Menopause and hormone fluctuations are natural parts of life, but this doesn’t mean you can’t manage the symptoms they cause.

Consider the following to rebalance your hormone levels during menopause and treat symptoms as a result:

  • Hormone therapy (HT): HT is available as oral capsules, vaginal inserts, or topical creams. Some mimic the effect of estrogen to help relieve symptoms of menopause. You’ll need to speak with your doctor for a prescription.
  • Lifestyle changes: Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, stress management, and adequate sleep are important for keeping your health in tip-top shape during menopause.
  • Nonhormonal medications: You may treat menopause symptoms without altering your hormone levels. Antidepressants are one option that may help relieve vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes.
  • Alternative therapies: Complementary approaches, such as herbs and , may help ease symptoms of menopause.

Menopause doesn’t just affect estrogen. It also affects progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, inhibin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone — all of which are related to decreased ovarian function.

The hormone changes you experience during menopause may explain many of the symptoms and why your risk of certain health conditions increases in postmenopause.

But several ways to address these changes are available. Speak with your doctor about hormone therapy and other lifestyle strategies to help make the menopause transition more manageable.

Connect with us!

  • Join our Menopause newsletter.
  • Explore our menopause hub.